Author
LoansJagat Team
Read Time
5 Min
09 Jun 2025
Pitambari Devi, a papad-maker from Rajasthan, struggled with high taxes and delays before GST. She paid 12.5% VAT locally and 2% CST on out-of-state sales. Deliveries to Gujarat took 5 days, and she spent ₹8,000/month on accounting.
In just 18 months, production rose from 50 kg to 200 kg/month, revenue grew to ₹1.2 lakh, and she hired 3 women
locally.
“GST helped me grow beyond my village,” she says.
India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) system is designed to create a unified tax structure across the nation, replacing multiple indirect taxes with a single, comprehensive tax. This simplification aims to reduce tax-related complexities and promote a seamless business environment.
Read More – Disadvantages of GST
GST in India is structured into several tax slabs, each applicable to different categories of goods and services. These slabs are:
0.25%: Diamonds and precious stones.
Transaction Stage | Sale Price (₹) | GST Rate | GST Amount (₹) | Total Invoice (₹) | Input Tax Credit Claimed (₹) | Net GST Payable (₹) |
Manufacturer to Wholesaler | 1,00,000 | 18% | 18,000 | 1,18,000 | - | 18,000 |
Wholesaler to Retailer | 1,50,000 | 18% | 27,000 | 1,77,000 | 18,000 (from Manufacturer) | 9,000 |
Retailer to Consumer | 2,00,000 | 18% | 36,000 | 2,36,000 | 27,000 (from Wholesaler) | 9,000 |
This system ensures tax is levied only on value addition, making GST efficient and transparent.
One of the primary objectives of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India is to eliminate the cascading effect of taxes, commonly referred to as "tax on tax." Prior to GST, businesses paid taxes on their purchases (input taxes) and also on their sales (output taxes), without the ability to offset the input taxes against the output taxes. This led to an increase in the overall cost of goods and services, which was ultimately borne by the consumer.
Under the GST regime, businesses can claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) for the taxes paid on their purchases, which can be offset against the taxes collected on their sales. This mechanism ensures that tax is levied only on the value added at each stage of the supply chain, thereby eliminating the cascading effect.
Particulars | Pre-GST Regime | GST Regime |
Service Fee | ₹50,000 | ₹50,000 |
Office Supplies (Input) | ₹20,000 | ₹20,000 |
Tax on Service Fee | 15% Service Tax = ₹7,500 | 18% GST = ₹9,000 |
Tax on Office Supplies | 5% VAT = ₹1,000 | 5% GST = ₹1,000 |
Input Tax Credit Available | Not Applicable | ₹1,000 (on office supplies) |
Net Tax Payable | ₹7,500 + ₹1,000 = ₹8,500 | ₹9,000 − ₹1,000 = ₹8,000 |
Total Cost | ₹78,500 | ₹78,000 |
Tax Saving under GST | - | ₹500 |
Note: Under the GST regime, the ability to claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) reduces the total tax outflow. This directly demonstrates how GST eliminates the cascading effect of taxes, which was a major flaw in the previous tax structure.
Aspect | Pre-GST Scenario | Under GST | Example |
Number of Returns | Multiple returns under VAT, Service Tax, Excise | 12 standard annual returns for regular taxpayers | Reduced filing from 20+ returns to 12 per year (GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B monthly). |
Registration Threshold | ₹5 lakh for VAT (varied by state) | ₹40 lakh for goods, ₹20 lakh for services | A trader with ₹30 lakh turnover now avoids mandatory registration. |
Composition Scheme | No such simplified option | Available for businesses with turnover < ₹1.5 crore (tax rates 1%-6%). | A small bakery earning ₹50 lakh opts for 1% tax under Composition Scheme. |
Digital Compliance | Manual filing, physical visits | Online registration, filing, payment via GSTN portal | A clothing store registers and files returns without visiting any tax office. |
E-Invoicing | No standard format | Mandatory for businesses with turnover > ₹5 crore (from 2020 onwards) | A tech firm generating ₹6 crore turnover now issues auto-validated e-invoices. |
E-Way Bill | Physical waybills; varied state rules | Uniform e-way bill system for movement of goods > ₹50,000 | A manufacturer in Pune shipping goods to Delhi generates an e-way bill online. |
Input Tax Credit (ITC) | Limited or no credit across taxes (e.g., VAT credit not usable against Service Tax) | Seamless ITC available on all inputs across states and sectors | A firm buying ₹1 lakh of raw materials claims ₹18,000 GST as ITC |
Real-Time Reconciliation | Manual matching, high error chances | Automated matching of invoices between buyer and seller returns | Errors reduced; mismatch alerts auto-generated. |
Tax Payment | Separate payments to state and central departments | Single online payment through GSTN gateway | A retailer pays ₹8,000 GST monthly in one unified payment |
Transparency & Audit Trail | Fragmented, state-specific records; hard to verify transactions | All transactions digitally recorded; easy traceability and audit | Helps reduce tax evasion and detect fake invoices |
The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has significantly transformed India's logistics and supply chain landscape. By eliminating inter-state tax barriers and streamlining processes, GST has led to substantial improvements in efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Also Read – GST on Commercial Rent
Through the creation of a single market, ease of compliance, and transparency, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has significantly altered India's indirect tax system. In addition to making dealing with customers easier, GST has created the groundwork for long-term economic growth by reducing the cascading effect of taxes, promoting interstate trade, and improving supply networks. It is a groundbreaking reform that is accelerating India's economic integration and efficiency.
Q. How has GST simplified taxation?
It replaced multiple indirect taxes with a single, streamlined tax system.
Q. What is the benefit of Input Tax Credit (ITC) under GST?
ITC allows businesses to claim credit for the tax paid on purchases, reducing overall tax liability.
Q. Who needs to register for GST?
Businesses with annual turnover above ₹40 lakh (goods) or ₹20 lakh (services) must register for GST.
Q. How has GST helped small businesses?
GST offers simpler compliance, threshold exemptions, and the Composition Scheme to support small enterprises.
Q. What is an e-Way Bill?
An e-Way Bill is a digital permit required for transporting goods worth over ₹50,000 between states.
Q. Can GST returns be filed online?
Yes, all GST registrations, payments, and return filings are done online via the GST portal.
About the Author
LoansJagat Team
We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?
Quick Apply Loan
Subscribe Now
Related Blog Post